In February, the Georgia American Academy of Pediatrics’ Board of Directors voted to adopt a resolution on climate change and child health. The resolution, now available online, underscores how climate change is harming the health of children in Georgia and joins the national AAP in endorsing, “Climate, Health, and Equity: A policy action agenda.”
As we confront an infectious pandemic of zoonotic origins and the persistence of racism and racial injustice–on the brink of our sweltering summer heat and looming hurricane season, the resolution is more resonant than ever. Climate action is a critical component of efforts to prevent future emerging infectious illnesses and to address the structural racism and systemic inequalities that make communities more vulnerable to environmental exposures.
I joined the AAP and Climate for Health on Earth Day to talk about this resolution, and the importance of pediatric leadership on climate solutions. Watch the virtual forum here, where you can also see the AAP’s partnership video with Climate for Health, “Our Children, Our Future.”
Rebecca Philipsborn is a pediatrician in Atlanta, Georgia where she serves on the Committee on Environmental Health as part of Georgia’s Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
